Day 10-11 Cho La (17,486 ft)
Day 10 - Dzongla (15,358 feet)
We didn't care for our lodge in Gorakshep. It was cold, dirty, the dining room was crowded, and the altitude of Gorakshep (16,864 ft) was wearing on us. We decided to not stay a second night. Instead we began our trek to Dzongla. I loved the afternoon walk! It was one of my favorites. The crowds thinned. The trail led along a steep mountainside with the valley dropping off far below and the peaks rising up and vanishing in wisps of clouds. I walked slowly and relished it. When we arrived in Dzongla (15,358 feet) it was snowing lightly.
Day 11 - Cho La Pass (17,486 ft)
A problem developed with one of our participants. He has something like a cold (not altitude sickness) that is weakening him. He decided to turn back with Dil, one of our porters, and meet us in Namche later, where our loop trek rejoins itself. For the rest in our group, we crossed the 2nd high pass, Cho La (17,486 ft). We left at 6:30 AM and made it to the top of the pass by 10:30. We had beautiful weather all way to the top. The sun and lack of wind made it very warm. The snow from the day before left only a dusting which quickly melted. The pass was beautiful, but as soon as we left clouds began to roll in and the wind started to pick up. On the way down I was back in my down jacket and layers. The landscape on the other side of the pass is brown and barren, like Modor, from Lord of the Rings, commented a trail friend.
Read MoreWe didn't care for our lodge in Gorakshep. It was cold, dirty, the dining room was crowded, and the altitude of Gorakshep (16,864 ft) was wearing on us. We decided to not stay a second night. Instead we began our trek to Dzongla. I loved the afternoon walk! It was one of my favorites. The crowds thinned. The trail led along a steep mountainside with the valley dropping off far below and the peaks rising up and vanishing in wisps of clouds. I walked slowly and relished it. When we arrived in Dzongla (15,358 feet) it was snowing lightly.
Day 11 - Cho La Pass (17,486 ft)
A problem developed with one of our participants. He has something like a cold (not altitude sickness) that is weakening him. He decided to turn back with Dil, one of our porters, and meet us in Namche later, where our loop trek rejoins itself. For the rest in our group, we crossed the 2nd high pass, Cho La (17,486 ft). We left at 6:30 AM and made it to the top of the pass by 10:30. We had beautiful weather all way to the top. The sun and lack of wind made it very warm. The snow from the day before left only a dusting which quickly melted. The pass was beautiful, but as soon as we left clouds began to roll in and the wind started to pick up. On the way down I was back in my down jacket and layers. The landscape on the other side of the pass is brown and barren, like Modor, from Lord of the Rings, commented a trail friend.